A New York driver’s license (DL) is a card that gives you permission to drive a motor vehicle. Your full name, date of birth, mailing address, signature, photo, and physical description are available on the DL card. You have to bring the card anytime you drive a motor vehicle.
Before you can get a class C license in New York, you are required to pass relevant knowledge and driving tests to show your knowledge about the rules of the road and indicate your driving skills. The DMV permit test is a set of multiple-choice questions and is administered by the state’s official NY DMV only. Our free New York permit test is all based on information available in the NY driver’s manual. We put the free DMV practice test 2025 and the official manual book to help you prepare well for these tests. Our gamified learning methods and our NY permit test will help you easier to obtain knowledge than just studying on the manual.
The New York DMV written test consists of 20 questions, of which you have to correctly answer at least 14 questions (70%) to pass the test.
Currently, you can take the New York permit test online. Access the Department of Motor Vehicles website to know how to apply for a permit and take the test online. Though, you still have to go to a DMV office to finish the process after taking the test.
To be well-prepared for your New York permit test, you should read thoroughly all the information in the New York DMV Driver’s Manual. This is because questions in the test are directly taken from this manual which includes some topics such as road rules, road signs and signals, traffic laws, and safe driving practices.
There is no restriction. If you fail the permit test in New York, you can retake it as many times as necessary. You also don’t have to pay a reexamination fee. However, you have to wait 6 months before you can take the test again if you fail it three times.
A New York permit is valid for five years. After that time, you will need to renew it.
You must complete at least 50 hours of practice driving, with a minimum of 15 hours at night (after sunset) with a parent, guardian, or instructor before you can take the New York road test.
To obtain a New York driver’s license, you must provide enough of the following documents:
After you pay $10, you can take the New York road test 2 times. If you fail that two times, you can pay another $10 for two more attempts.
The New York road test aims to assess your driving skills in normal traffic situations, so you should practice driving regularly before taking the test. While you’re taking the road test, you should apply some tips such as steering and accelerating smoothly, braking smoothly, turning into the same lane, always looking in the direction you’re driving, stopping correctly at stop signs, and don’t drive too slow.
The cost of a New York driver’s license varies depending on age and location. Below is the table of driver’s license and learner permit fees in New York.
|
Applicants Age |
Class D or DJ |
Class E |
Class M or MJ** |
|
16 to 16½ |
$80.00 / $90.00* |
Not available at this age |
$85.00 / $95.00* |
|
16½ to 17 |
$76.75 / $85.75* |
Not available at this age |
$81.25 / $90.25* |
|
17 to 17½ |
$92.50 / $102.50* |
Not available at this age |
$97.50 / $107.50* |
|
17½ to 18 |
$89.25 / $98.25* |
Not available at this age |
$93.75 / $102.75* |
|
18 to 18½ |
$80.00 / $90.00* |
$110.00 / $120.00* |
$85.00 / $95.00* |
|
18½ to 21 |
$76.75 – $80.00 $85.75 – $90.00* |
$103.75 – $110.00 $112.75 – $120.00* |
$81.25 – $85.00 $90.25 – $95.00* |
|
21 and older |
$64.25 – $67.50 $73.25 – $77.50* |
$91.25 – $97.50 $100.25 -$107.25* |
$68.75 – $72.50 $77.75 – $82.50* |
*Includes MCTD
**Part of the Class M and MJ fee supports the Motorcycle Safety Program in New York state.
To familiarize yourself with the format of the DMV written tests, you can try our New York DMV sample tests here.
